Korda back on top after swing on 18
Jessica Korda rode out a series of big momentum shifts Friday at Wilshire Country Club to hold onto the lead in the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open.
Six strokes ahead after three holes, tied with top-ranked Jin Young Ko at the turn and two shots back with three to play, Korda birdied the final two holes to take a one-stroke lead into the final round.
Korda shot a three-under 68 to break the tournament 54-hole record at 16 under. She matched the event course record with a 64 on Wednesday and shot a bogey-free 65 on Thursday to break the 36-hole scoring record at 13 under.
Ko shot a 66, making a 30-foot bogey putt on the par-three 18th after driving over the green and watching her second bang into the bank and roll back to her feet.
Korda matched Ko with a two-putt birdie on the par-five 15th, then hit to three feet for a birdie on the par-four 17th and to two feet on 18.
Korda birdied the first three holes to open the six-stroke lead. She parred the next five and bogeyed the par-four ninth to fall into a tie with Ko. Korda also bogeyed Nos. 11 and 13 before rallying late.
Brooke Henderson got a spot alongside Korda and Ko in the final group Saturday, shooting a 67 to get to 12 under. The Canadian birdied Nos. 15-17, then had a seven-foot birdie try slide left on 18.
Tie at PGA Tour team event
Tony Finau and Cameron Champ shot a four-under 68 in alternate-shot play for a share of the Zurich Classic lead with the Norwegian duo of Viktor Hovland and Kris Ventura.
Hovland and Ventura had a 69 to match Finau and Champ at 13-under 131. The teams will play best ball Saturday and close with an alternate-shot round Sunday at Avondale, La.
It was an eventful day in windy conditions at the TPC Louisiana, highlighted by two aces.
Nick Watney, the Zurich winner in 2007 when it was a traditional individual event, made a hole in one on the 14th hole from 224 yards.
Later, Graeme McDowell aced the 217-yard 17th, eliciting a roar from what is normally one of the rowdiest spectator areas on the course. McDowell, who didn’t watch his shot, then sent a cooler with cans of beer and wine to the media center.